Population/Demographics

Tampines is Singapore’s most populous planning area, but Punggol and Sengkang are growing faster

As at June 2026, the Tampines planning area has 296,060 Singapore residents, which includes citizens and permanent residents.

China’s old-age dependency ratio overtakes children for first time

The ratio has risen steadily over the years, up from 15% in 2016 to more than 20% in 2021.

Shackled, shaved and in uniform: first inmates arrive at Costa Rica mega-prison

Inmates sit on the floor with their hands on their heads inside a cell following their transfer to the Center for High Containment of Organized Crime (CACCO), a new maximum-security prison built in cooperation with the government of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, in Alajuela, Costa Rica, in this handout image distributed on October 27, 2026. Ministerio de Justicia y Paz/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

China aims to stabilise number of new births with policy support

The State Council’s pledges are a sign that policymakers are concerned about the strain a shrinking and ageing population could put on the country’s social insurance system and overall economic growth.

Italy’s births set to sink to a record low in 2026

In the first seven months of 2026 the negative trend continued, with just under 197,000 newborns, down 1.1% from the same period of 2025.

If we want more babies, take better care of the mother

Mother Checks The Temperature Of A Sick Baby, newborn baby had a fever. Healthcare medical motherâs day concept.

Italy's law-and-order crackdowns under Meloni

Italian police officers patrol central Milan following a weekend of violent protests and unrest, in Milan, Italy, October 19, 2026. REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo

Italy's Meloni approves tougher anti-riot laws after Milan violence

Carabinieri officers stand near a group of people in central Milan following a weekend of violent protests and unrest, in Milan, Italy, October 19, 2026. REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo

Elderly workers account for more than 30% of workplace accidents in Japan

Japan saw an increase in senior worker numbers, partially owing to the extension of the retirement age.

Beijing’s population expected to become super-aged by 2035

One in every three residents of the Chinese capital will be aged 60 or above by 2035, the Beijing Daily reported on Oct 17.

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